William H. Murray Sr.

William Hughes Murray, Sr., of Huntsville passed away Monday, March 19, 2007 at age 88. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 01, 2007 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville.
Born June 11, 1918 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bill Murray graduated from Shortridge High School in 1935. He was a sailing instructor at Culver Military Academy and an Eagle Scout. Bill majored in Electrical Engineering and was a member of Beta Theta Pi at Purdue University, graduating in 1940. Bill joined the Army Air Force at the start of World War II and served as Captain and aircraft maintenance officer in Goose Bay, Canada. He was honorably discharged with commendation in 1946.
He married his first love, Joy Love Boone, of Caribou, Maine, in 1946. After post graduate work at Purdue, he worked for the FAA in Indianapolis. During his long career as an electrical and aerospace engineer, Bill worked for General Electric and the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal.
He received many awards and commendations during his career, including special commendations for his work on the Apollo Project. Among his many hobbies were boating, flying airplanes, tennis, bridge, ballroom dancing, carpentry, auto repair, electronics, ham radio, and inventing.
Always active in civic affairs, Bill was a volunteer fireman, United Way board member, and founding member and officer of the Huntsville chapters of Parents Without Partners and Singles United. After retirement in 1984, he became a volunteer driver for dialysis patients, a CASA volunteer, and a Sunday school teacher at Trinity United Methodist Church.
Survivors include the love of his life, Lore Alice Vogan; sons, William Hughes Murray, Jr. and wife, Sharon Diane of Huntsville, and Dr. Roy Allan Murray of Centerville, Utah; daughters, Lynn Murray Evans and husband, Dr. Owen B. of Jackson Mississippi, and Lesly Gaynor Murray and husband, Stephen C. Edds of Flowood, Mississippi; grandchildren, Dr. Kathryn Evans Schneider and husband, Corey, Owen William Evans, Benjamin Wood Edds and Rachel Abigail Edds; great-grandson, Aiden Schneider; brother, James Lee Murray, Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana; sister, Susan Murray DeMars of Indianapolis, Indiana; stepchildren, Michael and Audrey Vogan of Chicago, Lonnie and Gina Vogan of Huntsville and Kristy and Sean Speers of Lacey Springs; step-grandchildren, Nicholas and Whitney Vogan; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by Joy Love Murray and his parents, James Lee and Lucy Hughes Murray.
Bill was well loved by his family and many friends, and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice Family Care, 3304 Westmill Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805.